Interview with Patricia Morrison

Describes receiving a Human Rights award in 1999 mainly for her work with the YWCA. Attributes her human rights involvement to a love of history from primary school. Mentions the role of teachers and family in this. Describes involvement in the Student Christian Movement (SCM) at university. Notes that this was during World War II and issues of whether to fight or be a pacifist were uppermost in people's minds. Describes being acting president of the SCM and mentions overseas branches. Talks about being asked to be the Secretary to the Committee of the International Students Service which was involved in bringing Jewish students from Europe. Recalls her scholarship to Oxford and ongoing involvement with the International Students Service including as secretary in Geneva. Describes the work done helping relocate students displaced by World War II in the US, Canada, Australia or New Zealand. Talks about returning to New Zealand and working for the SCM going round schools. Talks about the beginnings of an awareness of the importance of the international role of Asia.

Discusses working for the YWCA and a scheme established to help young Greek immigrant women. Describes a similar scheme helping orientate people from the Tokelau Islands into NZ society. Recalls the international YWCA Conference held in Australia in 1967. Comments that this was a good experience in terms of encouraging interdenominational contact. Describes travelling to overseas YWCA meetings including to Madagascar, the Congo (Zaire), Ethiopia, Sierra Leone and Uganda, the challenges involved and the effect on the YWCA and similar organisations of politics in these countries. Talks about protests and appeals by the World Wide YWCA to help South Africa. Comments on the satisfaction of working with people of different religions and of working with a Christian organisation.

Interviewer(s) - Ruth Greenaway

Quantity: 2 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 1 interview(s).

Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-2529.

Original recordings not available for playback. Surrogate copies will be provided.

Alternative form available: Listening copies OHLC-005100 to OHLC-005101